State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, participated on Monday, April 15, in Sofia, in the second edition of the Black Sea Security Conference under the aegis of the International Crimean Platform, thus continuing the first edition organized in Bucharest, in 2023.

During the session dedicated to the assessment of the political-military aspects, the Romanian official reiterated Romania's support for Ukraine, mentioning the progress made at the international initiatives level and emphasized the importance of the European F-16 Training Center in the 86th Air Base. He also emphasized the need to increase and expedite efforts to support Ukraine.

The State Secretary reiterated the strategic relevance of the Black Sea for the Euro-Atlantic security, especially in the context of developing the US Strategy for this region.

The establishment by Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria of the Black Sea Countermeasures Task Group (MCM Black Sea) was also mentioned, a concrete example of the cooperation among the three Black Sea allied states. "This initiative, which is to be rendered operational soon, responds to a major risk, which impacts on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and is open to the participation of allies with capabilities and personnel," the Romanian official emphasized.

As part of the conference, the State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations had a meeting with the Bulgarian Acting Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov. The agenda of the meeting included topics of common interest regarding cooperation at bilateral level as well as within the alliance in view of the upcoming Washington Summit.

Also, at the request of the Ukrainian side, State Secretary Simona Cojocaru participated together with State Secretary for Strategic Affairs from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ana Tinca, in a working meeting with the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mykola Tochytskyi. During the meeting with the Ukrainian side, the official addressed aspects regarding the multidimensional support provided to Ukraine by Romania.

The Press Office